Method of folding a box blank

ABSTRACT

A machine for forming a box from a collapsed blank that includes four interconnected sidewalls having four alternately interconnected end flaps extending therefrom, in which each blank is folded flat with one pair of interconnected end flaps facing the other pair of interconnected end flaps in juxtaposition to one another. The box forming machine includes a magazine assembly for supporting a plurality of blanks in vertically oriented planes and includes means for successively dispensing individual blanks to the receiving end of the box forming machine. The receiving end of the box forming machine includes means for spreading the extended end flaps wherein one pair of interconnected end flaps is angularly disposed to one side of the plane of the collapsed blank and the second interconnected pair of end flaps is angularly disposed on an opposite side of the plane of the collapsed blank. Means is provided for retaining the flaps in their spread relationship while conveyor means advances the collapsed blank to an end flap folding station which includes means for folding the pairs of end flaps back against their respective connected sides. The collapsed carton blank is then moved to a box opening station having means for engaging and angularly displacing one side of the collapsed blank to an open position while an adjacent interconnected side is engaged and held in a fixed position by stabilizing means. After the box has been opened, the bottom end flaps are folded upwardly to a position aligned with the bottom of the box.

United States Patent Reichert Aug. 13, 1974 METHOD OF FOLDING A BOX BLANK [75] lnventor: Donald G. Reichert, Tarpon Springs,

Fla.

[73] Assignee: ABC Packaging Machine Corporation, Largo, Fla.

[22] Filed: May 11, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 359,307

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 222,617, Feb. I, 1972, Pat. No.

[52] US. Cl. 93/49 M, 93/53 M, 93/53 SD 4 [51] Int. Cl B3lb l/36, B3lb 49/02 [58] Field of Search... 93/36 R, 49 R, 49 M, 49 AC, 93/53 R, 53 M, 53 SD, 84 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,750,856 6/1956 Ferguson et al. 93/49 R X 3,421,415 H1969 Pearson 93/53 SD X Primary Examiner-R0y Lake Assistant ExaminerJames F. Coan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Newton, Hopkins & Ormsby [57] ABSTRACT A machine for forming a box from a collapsed blank that includes four interconnected sidewalls having four alternately interconnected end flaps extending therefrom, in which each blank is folded flat with one pair of interconnected end flaps facing the other pair of interconnected end flaps in juxtaposition to one another. The box forming machine includes a magazine assembly for supporting a plurality of blanks in vertically oriented planes and includes means for successively dispensing individual blanks to the receiving end of the box forming machine. The receiving end of the box forming machine includes means for spreading the extended end flaps wherein one pair of interconnected end flaps is angularly disposed to one side of the plane of the collapsed blank and the second interconnected pair of end flaps is angularly disposed on an opposite side of the plane of the collapsed blank. Means is provided for retaining the flaps in their spread relatio'nship while conveyor means advances the collapsed blank to an end flap folding station which includes means for folding the pairs of end flaps back against their respective connected sides. The collapsed carton blank is then moved to a box opening station having means for engaging and angularly displacing one side of the collapsed blank to an open position while an adjacent interconnected side is engaged and held in a fixed position by stabilizing means. After the box has been opened, the bottom end flaps are folded up wardly to a position aligned with the bottom of the box.

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1. In a method for forming a box from a collapsed carton blank wherein the collapseD carton blank includes four interconnected sidewalls with cetain sidewalls having end flaps and in which each blank is flat with one flap facing another flap in juxtaposition with one another, said method including the steps of: a. engaging and simultaneously folding the facing end flaps in a first direction to positions in which both flaps are in parallel planes angularly disposed relative to the plane of said carton blank; b. engaging and maintaining one facing end flap in its angular displaced position located on one side of said plane of said carton blank; and, c. engaging and folding said other end flap to an angularly displaced position located on an opposite side of said plane of said carton blank.
 2. A method as required by claim 1 further characterized in that said facing end flaps are maintained in parallel planes relative to each other during folding movement to said angular displaced positions.
 3. A method as required by claim 1 wherein the other end flaps are respectively interconnected with the facing end flap, and are displaced therewith, including a further step of advancing said carton blank with said end flaps in said angularly displaced positions along a predetermined path and for thereafter folding said interconnected flaps back upon the outer surface of the sidewalls from which they respectively extend.
 4. A method as required by claim 3 further characterized in that said interconnected end flaps are maintained in a common plane during folding movement against the outer surface of said sidewalls.
 5. A method as required by claim 4 including a further step of opening said collapsed carton blank to form a box with said interconnected flaps folded back against said sidewalls.
 6. In a method of forming a box from a collapsed carton blank wherein the collapsed carton blank includes interconnected juxtaposed sidewalls and juxtaposed end flaps projecting from the sidewalls, the sidewalls and end flaps being separated by score lines along said blank, and wherein said sidewalls are disposed in parallel sidewall planes and said flaps are disposed in flap planes which respectively coinside with said sidewall planes, said method including the steps of: a. supporting said blank; b. applying sidewise force to one of said flaps while arresting any appreciable sidewise movement of said sidewalls so as to pivot the juxtaposed flaps simultaneously in one direction about their respective score lines to angular positions on one side of said sidewall planes and in which their respective flap planes diverge from said sidewall planes; c. Thereafter, pivoting said one of said flaps in an opposite direction to a spread position on the other side of said sidewall planes in which its flap plane diverges from both the flap plane of the other flap and said sidewall planes.
 7. A method as required by claim 6, wherein the pivoting of said one of said flaps in said opposite direction is accomplished by means of a vacuum cup, which is moved in said opposite direction while a vacuum is applied thereto to retain said one of said flaps against said cup.
 8. A method as required by claim 6 wherein said sidewise force to said one of said flaps is applied against the outer surface of said one of said flaps by a vacuum cup which moved in an arcuate path in said one direction, and the pivoting of said one of said flaps in the opposite direction is accomplished by moving said vacuum cup in said arcuate path in said opposite direction as a vacuum is applied to said cup for retaining said one of said flaps against said cup.
 9. A method as required by claim 6 including restraining said other of said flaps in its angular position as said one of said flaps is pivoted in the opposite direction.
 10. A method as required by claim 6 including, after said one of said flaps has been pivoted to its spread position, applying forces to the inside surfaces of said flaps in directions parallel to and on opposite sides of the planes of said sidewaLls for folding said flaps flat against the outer surfaces of their respective sidewalls.
 11. In a method of forming a box from a carton blank wherein adjacent wall portions of said box are separated by a score line, the steps of: a. holding one of said wall portions against appreciable sidewise movement; b. engaging and pushing the surface of the other of said wall portions with a vacuum cup to pivot said other of said wall portions about said score line to an angular position on one side of said one of said wall portions; and c. thereafter, moving said vacuum cup in an opposite direction while applying a vacuum thereto so as to pull said other of said flaps to a position on the opposite side of said one of said wall portions. 